For us, the Erfurt Christmas Market exceeded our expectations. And to think we almost skipped it.
While researching which Christmas markets to visit in Germany, we put Erfurt high on our list, but we couldn’t quite work it into our itinerary.
That changed when we had some extra time on the drive from Dresden to Cologne. We made a quick detour to Erfurt and then spent several wonderful hours exploring its fabulous markets and picturesque side streets.
The Erfurt Christmas Market has it all…festively decorated market stalls, a wide assortment of food, drinks, and shopping, plus one of the cutest mugs we saw in Europe. The Erfurt Cathedral and St. Severus Church are located beside the market, and with their spires and lofty position, made us feel as if we were in a Christmas market with Hogwarts Castle looming in the background.
And if that’s not enough, Erfurt is a beautiful city. The Krämerbrücke is a must-see, plus there are smaller Christmas markets sprinkled throughout the city.
In this guide, we’ll share with you what you need to know to plan your visit here, including up-to-date hours of the market, a few things to do in Erfurt outside of the Christmas market, plus lots of photos.
Erfurt Christmas Market
Dates: November 25 to December 22, 2025
Hours: Sunday through Wednesday 10 am to 8 pm; Thursday 10 am to 9 pm; Friday and Saturday 10 am to 10 pm
Cost: Free
Website: Erfurt-weihnachtsmarkt.de
There are over 15 Christmas markets in Erfurt. The official website has a map of the locations if you want to see them all.
The Market on Domplatz
The main market is held on Domplatz, the main market square. Over 200 market stalls fill this square, along with a Ferris Wheel and rides for kids. There is also a 12-meter-high Christmas pyramid and a magnificent Christmas tree that sits in the center of the market.
St. Severus Church and the Erfurt Cathedral (St. Mary’s Cathedral) sit on a hill next to the market. They create one of the most dramatic backdrops we saw for a Christmas market in Europe.
For a great view of the market in Domplatz, climb the stairs next to the cathedral and then look back and enjoy the view. Both the church and the cathedral are open to visitors, if you want to take a look inside.
Inside the Erfurt Cathedral
The market is filled with stalls selling high-quality crafts and gifts. For sale were handmade pottery, wool hats and socks, Christmas ornaments, kits of wooden mechanical models, glassware, and so much more. We did quite a bit of shopping here for friends and family, another reason I’m so glad we made this quick detour to Erfurt.
Foods to try in the market include the Thuringian bratwurst, a pork sausage flavored with marjoram, caraway, and garlic, and Erfurter Schittchen, one of the oldest Christmas stollens in Germany (it dates back to 1329).
Erfurt Christmas Mug
And then there are the mugs. Each Christmas market in Germany has its signature mug, and Erfurt is no different. There were several different mugs available throughout the market, but the Erfurter Puffbohne mugs are what caught my eye.
The Erfurter Glühweinstübchen stall on Domplatz, located near the bumper cars, was selling an assortment of these Puffbohne mugs. If you are into collecting mugs, you can collect an entire “family” of mugs here, including a papa, a mama, and a baby Puffbohne, and even a gingerbread version.
And I couldn’t help but wonder what a Puffbohne is. A Puffbohne is an “Erfurt broad bean.” It’s a city mascot and a nickname for the inhabitants of Erfurt, as it’s a staple food in the region.
Strolling Across the Krämerbrücke
From Domplatz, we walked along Marketstraße to Fischmarkt. There is a very small market here, with just a few market stalls, but again, with its colorful buildings as a backdrop, is another pretty spot to visit in Erfurt.
Marketstraße
The Christmas market on Fischmarkt
For a fun photo opportunity, be sure to check out the Bernd das Brot statue, which is located near Fischmarkt.
From Fischmarkt, it is a very short walk to the Krämerbrücke.
The Krämerbrücke is a medieval bridge that is lined with half-timbered houses and shops.
COOL FACT: It has been continually inhabited for over 500 years, longer than any other bridge in Europe.
Boutique shops line the lower level of the buildings, making this a great place to do a little more shopping.
Wenigemarkt
On the opposite side of the bridge is Wenigemarkt, home to another small Christmas market. This market is filled with food and drink stalls. We ate lunch here, dining on Thuringian bratwurst and very good chili.
With our limited time, we turned around here and walked back to our car. There are several other smaller markets in town that look good, including the market in Anger (not a typo!).
The View from the Citadel
For an elevated view of the Christmas market in Domplatz, visit the viewpoint next to the Citadel and Peterskirche. You’ll walk up a series of steps and then ride and elevator up to the viewing platform. This viewpoint is a 5-minute walk from Domplatz. Here is the view.
Is the Erfurt Christmas Market Worth It?
All four of us loved this Christmas market. It ticks all of the boxes for what we think makes a great Christmas market experience: a beautiful setting, festively decorated market stalls, high-quality items for sale, and new foods to try. The Erfurt Christmas market also has a more local feel than the more popular Christmas markets, like Dresden or Munich.
We have visited many Christmas markets throughout Germany and Europe. There are definitely a few that we liked more than Erfurt (on this list are Nuremberg, Esslingen am Neckar, Dresden, and Munich), but this is a great one to add into your itinerary, if you will be in the area.
You can see all of the Christmas markets we have visited in our guide to the European Christmas markets ↓
How to Get to Erfurt
Erfurt is well-connected to other cities in Germany by high-speed train. Here are travel times from nearby cities:
Berlin: 1.5 to 2 hours
Leipzig: 45 minutes
Dresden: 2 to 3 hours
Frankfurt: 2 hours
Munich: 3 to 3.5 hours
You will arrive at Erfurt Hauptbahnhof. It is a 20-minute walk to Domplatz but there are trams that run frequently, connecting the train station to Domplatz in 10 minutes.
We had a rental car, so we drove to Erfurt. From Dresden, it is a 215 km drive that takes about 2.5 hours. The drive from Erfurt to Cologne is 370 km, which takes 4 hours.
We parked at Parkhaus Domplatz, which is across the street from Domplatz.
If you have any questions about the Erfurt Christmas Market, or if you want to share your experience, let us know in the comment section below.
Plan Your Trip to Germany
Below are our guides on more places to visit in Germany, plus our favorite Christmas markets in Europe.
Germany Travel Guide | How to Plan a Trip to Germany
Travel advice for Germany. Visit Bavaria, Munich, Berlin, Berchtesgaden, and Neuschwanstein Castle. Get travel itineraries and learn where to stay and where to eat.
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